28 DB Truck Cab construction

[stakeside]

I am restoreing a 28 DB truck cab. I have completed all interior fabracation except for the roof. I do not have any pattern pieces to work from. The header/windshield support piece has 13 drill holes that may have been for wood screws.

What is the wood type and demensions of the wood slats? Was the wood tougue and groove? I have seen a truck with 15 slats of wood with small gap between, but not sure it was original.

Any information would be appreicated.

The attached picture shows tougue and groove I believe.

[dwollam]

I am certainly not an expert on 1928 trucks but on 25 and earlier screensides there is a gap between slats, about a quarter inch. I also have a complete original DB or GB top for an 8 foot bed canopy truck which looks like the one on the middle right side of the page 64 in the book "The Dodge Story". If I remember correctly the slats on it are butted up side by side. It is over 11ft. long! I have the top stored upstairs in my shop. If interested I would sell it. It still has the original covering and side and rear curtains as well. All wood is excellent. I'll try to get some pics and post them here.

[dwollam]

Here are some pics of the underneath of the top. There is a slight gap between the slats, just enough that they don't touch. It was hard to get far enough away to get very good pictures. It is in the rafters upstair in my shop.

[stakeside]

Thanks for information and photos. I am not sure if the top in your picture is tougue and groove. There appears to be an additional goove in the surface of the slats.

I am restoreing as a cab truck with a stakeside bed. The cab is a little over 4' long.

[dwollam]

No, they are not tongue and groove. They are individual slats. Yes there is a groove down the center of each slat.

[stakeside]

I will use the slats shown in attached picture. The spacing and size match the outside cab width of 53”.

I will cover with foil covered 5/16” jute material insulation I found at Restoration Supply Company in Escondido Ca.

[Guest 1930]

I would guess that the wood originally used be ash but that is only a guess considering that ash was prevalent where wood was used in these vehicles within this time frame, couldn't the gap between the slats be due to retraction of the wood throughout the years? Again just a guess but I would see no purpose of a gap except to allow for movement of the wood.

[Ron Lawson]

It was Quite common to have a slight gap between the slats so as to prevent warping if the timber got wet The same as when beds [trays if your an Aussie] had wooden floors a slight gap of about 1/8th was left between the boards[slats] They usualy closed up in winter but the boards didnt buckle and warp In summer when the moisture was cooked out of the timber you would have the gap back again